The player has a limited amount of real time, representing a full day shift at the checkpoint, to process as many arrivals as possible. Generally the player can make two mistakes without penalty, but subsequent mistakes will cost the player increasing monetary demerits from their day's salaries. The player ultimately must stamp the individual's access permit to accept or deny entry unless the entrant is arrested only at this point is the player told of any mistakes they may have made by way of a printout. There are opportunities for the player to have the applicant detained and the applicant may, at times, attempt to bribe the inspector. When discrepancies are discovered, the player may interrogate the applicant about the discrepancy, and possibly demand further information, such as fingerprints or a full body scan in order to clear the discrepancy, find proof required to deny the entrant, or find enough incriminating evidence required to arrest the entrant.

The player inspects arrivals' documents and uses an array of tools to determine whether the papers are in order for the purpose of keeping undesirable individuals such as terrorists, wanted criminals, or smugglers out of the country. The gameplay of Papers, Please focuses on the work life of an immigration inspector at a border checkpoint for the fictitious country of Arstotzka in the year 1982.

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